Blue-Green Infrastructure Approach to Urban Riverfronts Revitalization: The Case of Berdawni River in Zahle

Abstract

Zahle, a city long defined by its deep cultural roots and iconic Berdawni River, has witnessed a growing disconnect between its people, its landscape, and its natural watercourse. Once a symbol of vitality and identity, the Berdawni River suffers from ecological degradation, physical disconnection, and a fading presence in the daily lives of its inhabitants. This thesis investigates whether a Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) approach can serve as a viable framework for the river’s revitalization—ecologically, socially, and economically. The thesis adopts research-by-design approach and a qualitative methodology, combining literature review, photography, sketching, archival research, mental maps, and semi-structured interviews with experts and local residents. National case studies provide contextual grounding for BGI strategies in Lebanon. Meanwhile, an in-depth urban analysis of Zahle’s morphology, topography, public spaces, and socio-economic landscape informs the design intervention. The project focuses on a single pilot site—Patch B, comprising the Parking Site and Hotel Sunken Tissue—selected for its spatial openness, ecological vulnerability, and urban significance. The proposed design reclaims the site through hydrological restoration, inclusive public space activation, and integration of heritage and economic reuse. It also envisions a framework for participatory governance, where both Lebanese residents and Syrian refugees play an active role in maintenance and programming, transforming the site into a platform for social and ecological repair. What emerges is not only a site-specific design, but a broader vision for a more inclusive, resilient, and identity-driven Zahle—one where the river is no longer viewed as a forgotten edge, but as a central spine that weaves together ecology, community, and urban life. This thesis offers a framework and a call to action: to rethink our urban rivers not as obsolete infrastructure, but as catalysts for regeneration and belonging.